Chinese premier asks public to supervise government
Beijing, March 17 : Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Sunday said he is willing to accept supervision from the society and media on clean governance.
If one takes public office, he or she should cut off any expectation of getting rich, Li told reporters after the annual session of China's legislature concluded Sunday, Xinhua reported.
"Pursuing government office and making money have been 'two separate lanes' since ancient times," he said. "Only by being upright himself, can he then ask others to be upright," the new premier quoted a Chinese adage as saying.
"We are willing to accept supervision from the whole society and media," he said.
Urging a battle against corruption, which he described as "incompatible to reputation of the government, like fire to water", Li said a sound mechanism would be established to ensure officials dare not and were unable to practise corruption.
And those corrupt would be punished by the law, he added.
Li said it was even more important to make sure power should be exercised in an open and transparent fashion "so that the people can supervise government effectively".
Promising to win people's trust and practising frugality in government spending, he said: "Within my tenure, the government will not use public coffer to construct new offices, halls or guest houses for government use."
The premier also said that his government proposed to reduce the number of government employees, spending on official hospitality, overseas trips for official purposes and purchases of official vehicles.
Saying that the central government would set an example and governments at all levels must follow suit, he said: "If the people are to live a good life, their government must be put on a tight budget."